ALOR STAR – After being hit by a wave of new infections and a massive downturn in their mainstay tourism and retail sectors, Kedahans are being cautioned that Covid-19 will not dissipate soon.
The state is emulating Singapore’s concept of handling the pandemic by moving to vaccinate rapidly while imposing measures to co-exist with the coronavirus.
State Health Department director Dr Othman Warijo stresses that the situation can be contained if people subscribe to the inoculations and continue to adopt precautions such as masking, good personal hygiene and physical distancing.
Singapore plans to loosen travel restrictions and limitations on gatherings, but only for fully vaccinated individuals.
In Kedah, the tourism sector, especially Langkawi, is on the verge of reopening under tight conditions. This includes introducing a special compliance certificate for travel trade members, which aims to regulate standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Dr Othman said the Health Department is determined to handle the situation.
“We can reduce the number of new cases if we sincerely observe the SOPs for the safety of our family and the society at large to eventually overcome the problem,” he said in an interview with The Vibes.
Kedah recorded 2,072 new infections and 15 deaths yesterday.
Out of the 11 districts, 10 remain designated as red zones. Only Padang Terap is a yellow zone.
“Immunisation is the best way to address the problem and we are confident of achieving herd immunity to reduce the number of new infections in the given timeline,” Dr Othman said.
The Health Department has conducted Covid-19 screenings on 275 personnel from various agencies involved in the search and rescue operations during the tragic floods and landslides in the Yan and Kuala Muda districts around Gunung Jerai last week.
Dr Othman said the personnel involved are from the police force, the armed forces, the Fire and Rescue Department, the Civil Defence Force and the People’s Volunteer Corps.
He added that Yan District Council and the mountain guide team have also been screened and tested for the coronavirus at the Operations Control Centre at Titi Hayun.
“Meanwhile, 28 positive cases were identified among the flood victims,” he said.
“Three have been admitted at Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital, Sungai Petani. The other patients have been warded at the Covid-19 Low-Risk Treatment Centre in Sungai Petani,” he said.
Kedah health exco Dr Mohd Hayati Othman was among those who tested positive after distributing aid to flood victims in Yan, despite having received two vaccine doses.
He is now under quarantine at home. – The Vibes, August 29, 2021.
